Allotments 4 All

Sorry for such a morbid subject but ,tomorrow it is my Mother in Laws funeral and it as been left to me to sort most things out concerning the funeral. I found myself disgusted at the cost of a funeral, never realised it cost so much and was thinking that when I pass on I do not want so many people making money out of my death so, please could any body point me in the right direction on how to find out about alternative burial arrangements. Always fancied the idea of being buried in a woodland.

sorry about that, Richard, rotten time of year to have it happen, but then again, never a good time   :-\
having lost my mum at 50 and approaching(now past), 50, I to think about it, I've heard but not investigated that friends of the earth, I think, have burial schemes, I've impressed on my children that I want the cheapest funeral, with a cardboard coffin, yes I'm serious, then, whatever is left in the pot, I want them all to have a great big party and celebrate my life, I'll be there, wtching them  :D
try to go one step at a time  :)

Richard, you could ask the Undertaker you are using for your Mother in law and he could tell you if there is one locally.  More and more of 'Natural places' are being created all over the country.  I know they use Willow up here for the coffin Our local burial place named 'Hundy Mundy' is in an area of natural beauty with plenty trees and open fields.  Sorry to hear of your Mother in laws death at this time of year. 

NO funeral will be cheap. And cardboard coffins have to be strengthened so that they don' t collapse & are no cheaper than veneered ones.

Here you go Richard
http://www.goasyouplease.com/alt_burials.cfm
http://www.ac026.dial.pipex.com/naturaldeath/
I'm opting for a woodland burial myself :)
SSx

http://www.peacefunerals.co.uk/woodland.html
try this one too.

I am sorry for your loss, Richard.  I too like the idea of feeding a tree when I'm gone so I've let all and sundry know I'd like a woodland burial.  I heard a very informative programme on Radio 4 on this issue a year or so back.  There might be something in the archives on the BBC site.

G x

Dads cost a fortune and the cardboard 'green' coffin was just as expensive as the regular cheap and cheerful option - dad went cheap and cheerful, he would have been livid if we had spent any more than necessary!  Me, a cheap cremation then blown to the wind on Westward Ho!  beach whilst my nearest and dearest eat lovely Hockings ice creams.

I am sending you my bestest wishes and cyber thoughts Richard at this rotten time. 

Having arranged both of my parents funerals and been shocked at the rip-off costs I have told my wife to put me out with the bins when I snuff-it  :o

I just wanted to add my condolences, it was my fiance's grandmother's funeral last Thursday so I know how you are feeling. She had paid into some kind of scheme that covered all the funeral costs and even chose her own coffin. Don't know that I'd have the courage to be honest!
Anyway, I hope that all goes as well as these things can.

Sarah

Lost my mam when I was still at school. She was 33. Lost my brother when he was 24.  My dad said then that all funerals are expensive so he wants to be cremated with his ashes spead over his allotment! He says it would be cheaper in the long run as he does not want people mourning over him when he is gone buying flowers for a gravestone. And No, I am not joking.  :'(

Quote from: Merry Tiller on December 10, 2006, 22:37:21
Having arranged both of my parents funerals and been shocked at the rip-off costs I have told my wife to put me out with the bins when I snuff-it  :o

Likewise.  We live not far from the local crematorium and I told OH to just sling me over the fence.

Best wishes to the family, Richard.

No funeral for me, no religious mumbo jumbo, no bloke that I have never met in a white collar, telling everybody what a diamond geezer I was? and most of all free. I will be going to be used for medical teaching, then all the bits bunged in the hospital incinerator.

Richard, I expect you are too busy to read this today, but i just wanted to say I hope it all goes well and we shall be thinking of you.  Take care.

Sorry to hear your news Rich we also bury my Great Aunt Wednesday all the best hope it goes well. I think when I go I also will have ashes sprinkled on the plot let them slugs try and get past me.

When we made wills about 15 years ago we both suggested that our ashes went on the allotment.... the solicitor was mortified!
::)

Sometimes I think solicitors being 'mortified' is a very good thing.

I buried my uncle last year and the cost was frightening. The recycled cardboard coffins were more expensive than the cheapest veneer ones.

Me and his two best friend had the 'rare priviledge' of being allowed into the undertakers' workshop - we painted his coffin and stuck photos, letters and fairy lights on it! (They were ALSO mortified - as it were!) You know those impressive looking brass handles on coffins??? Well they're PLASTIC. I could tell you a tale or two about THAT day (in fact I wrote a journal about it at the time to lessen the sadness - I'll post it if anyone's interested)

I even found a cupboard (yes .. yes ... all right ... I was sneaking about!) with a sign on it that said 'Grave Accessories'. I wanted to re-write the sign so it said 'Burial Bling' but my uncle's friends stopped me just in time. Grief does strange things to a person!

On a serious note ... sorry for your loss Richard. I hope the funeral went as well as can be expected. XXXX

I'm definitely headed for the compost heap when I go.

Burial Bling - Trixiebelle  That's ace - will write it into my instructions.

I don't have kids and not many rellies, certainly none hereabouts, so my plan is to go out sozzled and in debt having lived a high old life in my retirement.  When I was arranging dad's funeral earlier this year, the lass at the Co-op kind of dismissed the natural funerals as being really expensive.  It wasn't appropriate for dad, but it did make me realise I will have to get it down in writing to make sure somebody carries it all out.  The again, what do I care, I won't be around to notice if someone gets all traditional over me.  As long as they are saying their prayers to their gods if it makes them feel better, I don't mind.

Definitely tree compost for me, assuming I'm not toooo pickled by then.

Quote from: ACE on December 11, 2006, 08:19:57
I will be going to be used for medical teaching, then all the bits bunged in the hospital incinerator.

My gramps did that. And the hospital did a very sincere, very dignified service which was attended by a number of senior doctors who wanted to show their gratitude.
And we were given the ashes back (not from the hospital incinerator!)

But this didn't happen until over three years after his death. To be honest, it brought the grief right back to the surface for the family, many of whom had found the lack of a body to bury/ cremate at the time deeply distressing.

It's just something to take into account if you are planning to do this.   :-\

Think I'll leave my body to science fiction ;D

Where's me coat?